Burn Test Video: How Does CPVC Compare to PEX and PPR?

Fire and life safety is a vital consideration for many aspects of residential and commercial design and construction. But often left out of the equation is the piping system.

It’s critical to weigh the combustion safety of your piping systems. Some types of plastic plumbing—PEX and polypropylene—will not only burn, but may drip flaming material. That’s not the case with Corzan^® CPVC.

Corzan Piping Systems are self-extinguishing. When exposed to fire, Corzan Piping Systems will develop a char but will not worsen the fire by continuing to burn after the flame is removed. This is because Corzan has a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 60, meaning that it requires 60% oxygen in the air to sustain a flame. Other non-metallic plumbing materials have an LOI of less than 20, meaning they burn easily and sustain a flame in normal air.

To fully grasp what this means, watch this burn test to see how 2” CPVC, PEX, and PPR pipes respond when exposed to flame:

In addition to its burn resistance, third-party laboratory testing of inhalation toxicity using the New York State Modified Pittsburgh Protocol shows that CPVC is no more toxic than a campfire. The Biological Services Division of the United States Testing Company, now SGS, confirms that the smoke from burning CPVC is comparable to the smoke from Douglas Fir wood.

Corzan CPVC also is listed for use in plenums. Learn more about plenum applications.